"Renya, what's wrong?"
Senju Hashirama noticed that Renya had suddenly stopped walking and couldn't help but feel curious.
"Hashirama-san, I need to talk to Kakuzu about something," Renya said.
"Then go. Just don't get into a fight with him again."
"Mm, I know..."
Hashirama watched Renya walk off and muttered to himself, "I wonder what little Renya is up to this time?"
The reason Renya went back to find Kakuzu was because he suddenly remembered that the guy was supposed to be quite wealthy in the original story.
Following the principle that a thief never leaves empty-handed, he planned to extort a hefty sum out of him.
...
Elsewhere, Kakuzu was struggling to get up from the ground, staggering as he made his way back toward the village.
A flash of resentment crossed his eyes as he growled coldly,
"Those damned higher-ups... I'll never forgive you!"
Since he had survived, those old bastards in the village had to die.
Just then, he heard footsteps behind him.
Instinctively, he turned his head—and locked eyes with a pair of scarlet Sharingan.
"You... why are you back again?" Kakuzu's face turned deathly pale as he stammered.
He thought Renya had returned to finish him off.
After all, it was Senju Hashirama who had agreed to spare him, not the Uchiha youth in front of him.
At that thought, Kakuzu closed his eyes in despair.
His body was still riddled with poison, and he could barely walk. He stood no chance against Renya.
All he could do now was close his eyes and wait for death.
Damn those old geezers... letting you get away like that...
Strangely, in what he thought would be the final moments of his life, he didn't feel afraid of death.What truly angered him was that the higher-ups of the village might still live.
Renya had no idea why this guy had shut his eyes.
But he didn't care. He was here for the money.
"Kakuzu, I think you should pay me for the antidote."
Hearing this, Kakuzu's eyes snapped open in shock.
"You're... not going to kill me?"
Renya looked a little puzzled.
"Why would I kill you?"
Hashirama-sama had already spoken. Killing Kakuzu now would be rude.
Seeing that Renya didn't seem to be faking it, Kakuzu unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
But then he realized the true meaning behind Renya's words just now.
This kid... was here to collect money...
"How much do you want?" Kakuzu asked cautiously.
Over the years, he had saved up a bit from his missions. Hopefully, it was enough.
Renya looked him up and down. Honestly, this guy didn't look that rich...
Eventually, Renya slowly held up three fingers.
"Thirty million ryō."
"Thirty million?!" Kakuzu nearly dislocated his jaw.
All his years of hard labor had only earned him a few million.
And this kid wanted thirty million just like that? Why not just rob a bank?
"What, you don't have that much?" Renya frowned, visibly displeased, his voice turning colder.
He assumed this money-obsessed miser was just trying to get out of paying.
Making excuses, huh...
Seeing Renya about to make a move, Kakuzu was on the verge of tears.
"No, it's not that! I really don't have that much money!"
"Aren't you obsessed with money?" Renya asked, confused.
Wasn't Kakuzu famously greedy in the original timeline?
How could he not have money?
"Kid, I swear, I really don't have that much!"
What Renya didn't know was that Kakuzu hadn't always been so fixated on money.
It was only after being betrayed by his village that he came to realize the power of wealth.
Combined with the secret technique Earth Grudge Fear, which let him steal hearts to prolong his life, Kakuzu essentially gained immortality.
But as everyone around him faded away, he was left with nothing but time and loneliness.
So he placed all his hope for security and meaning in money, eventually becoming completely obsessed with it.
Renya could tell that Kakuzu wasn't lying and sighed helplessly.
Seems he came at the wrong time.
"How much do you have on you right now? Hand it all over."
Kakuzu obediently handed over all his money. Renya took the scroll and checked it—around three million.
He put the scroll away at his waist, fairly satisfied.
Not a huge haul, but still not a waste of a trip...
"Kid, can I leave now?" Kakuzu asked cautiously.
"Debt's paid, you can go!" Renya snorted.
He had hoped for a big payout, but this was all he got.
"But... I have no money left..." Kakuzu said through gritted teeth.
Damn brat, pushing his luck like this!
If he were in better shape, he would've fought back long ago.
"Fine, go on," Renya waved him off.
Kakuzu had just turned to leave when he heard Renya's next words.
"Don't forget, Kakuzu—you still owe me twenty-seven million ryō. I'll be collecting eventually..."
Kakuzu spun around in disbelief.
But Renya was already gone.
Kakuzu: "..."
Not only had he failed to assassinate the God of Shinobi, now he was also saddled with a massive debt.
Only now did he truly understand the importance of money...
...
Land of Hot Water, Yugakure.
After a long and difficult journey, the two finally arrived at their destination.
"Haha, we made it at last!"
Yugakure was shrouded in evening mist, casting a soft glow over the village.
Renya followed Hashirama into the hot spring inn, the wooden floors creaking gently beneath their feet.
The proprietress rushed over in her wooden clogs. Upon seeing them, she greeted them warmly.
"You've come at just the right time! The men's 'Drifting Mist Pool' just had its water changed, and it has a beautiful view of the mountain valley at dusk!"
She led them through a lantern-lit corridor.
Pushing open the wooden door to the men's bath, a wave of steam and sulfur filled the air.
"Hahaha, hot springs, here I come!" Hashirama dove straight in and waved from the other side.
"Come on in, Renya! It feels amazing!"
Renya hesitated for a moment, then slowly undressed.
The hot spring water rose over his lean, battle-scarred body. His tense muscles gradually relaxed in the warmth.
This was his first time soaking in a hot spring. It really was pleasant.
This trip hadn't been in vain...
He glanced over to see Hashirama lounging comfortably by the edge of the pool, hair soaked and wearing a gentle smile.
"Renya, how does it feel?"
Renya nodded. "Feels alright."
Just then, a loud crash echoed from the distance.
In a flash, Renya burst out of the water, grabbing his sword from the side, Sharingan spinning rapidly.
Hashirama, however, remained completely relaxed in the water. He casually extended a hand, releasing a Wood Release vine that easily ensnared the source of the commotion—a stray cat.
"Renya, you're too tense." Hashirama gently stroked the cat.
"It's just a little kitty."
Renya froze, watching as Hashirama gently set the cat down by the poolside and fed it some fish cakes swiped from the kitchen.
Years of constant battle had left him with reflexes that were hard to suppress.
He awkwardly slid back into the pool.
----------------
For each review +1 Chapter
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo